Wow, that would be a departure. I thought the US required direct mechanical steering and brakes on all cars. If this is the world's first steer-by-wire, well, I have think hard about whether I'm ready for that.Smidge204 wrote:My understanding is the Leaf is completely drive-by-wire, so there is no mechanical connection between any of the controls (steering, accelerator, brake, parking brake) and the actual mechanisms. So rather than a booster and master cylinder, it probably uses an electric hydraulic pump/ram of some kind.
garygid wrote:It applies the energy-wasting disc brakes BEFORE the Regen?
So, with a LONG Regen-Braking run you are (perhaps slowly) heating the brake pads to ... "very hot"?
Is that done so that the brake pads will already be touching (lightly) the brake rotors, ready for increased disc-braking pressure?
Pretty much my position on it. I know drive-by-wire cars exist as prototype/concept vehicles, and that drive-by-wire systems are common on industrial equipment (construction vehicles, forklifts, etc). But I just had the impression that the Leaf was also drive-by-wire. I'd be a littleGroundLoop wrote:Wow, that would be a departure. I thought the US required direct mechanical steering and brakes on all cars. If this is the world's first steer-by-wire, well, I have think hard about whether I'm ready for that.
There's probably an electric brake pump that provides boost pressure, like a Prius.
Likewise, an electric steering pump for that overboosted steering feel.
Next time someone does a drive, try cranking the wheel over while the Leaf is off. I'd bet it feels pretty normal -- heavy, but mechanically connected.
wgs1912 wrote:From the video I watched at work it shows a "cooprative" brake system. It starts with mechanical brakes switches to regen then bake to mechanical brakes at final stop.